Closure operator and retainer



ALE QMLI s'QN {cLosuREi' OPERATOR AND RETAINER Fi led Feb. 27'. 1925 ATTORNEYS Patented July 6, 1926.

PATENT orricn.

WILLIAM ANDREW TOMLINSON, 01 PHOENIX, ARIZONA.

CLOSURE OPERATOR AND RETAINER.

Application filed February 27. 1925. Serial No. 12,106.

My invention is an improvement in operators and retainers for swinging closures, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is the pro vision of a simple, reliable and efiicient device which will afford facilities for operating a swinging closure and for releasably securing and holding the swinging closure in any one of a plurality of different positions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character described which includes an operating and retaining rod comprising a plurality of sections and means connecting adjacent sections so that the adjacent sections can be held rigidly in axial alincment with each other, or one of the sections can be swung toward the other of said adjacent sections.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an operating and holding de vice for a swinging closure which is adapted when in inactive position to be positioned close to the inner side of the closure and to he releasably held in suchout of the way inactive position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fi ure 1 is a perspective view of a closure and frame construction equipped with a closure operating and holding device embodying the invention, 7

Figure 2 is a vertical sectionthrough-the closure and frame exhibited in Figure 1, the closure operating and holding device being shown in elevation in full lines in the position to retain the closure fully open and in dash lines when the closure is in closed position,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the closure held by the closure operating and holding device in a position intermediate the two positions illustrated in Figure 2,

Figure l is a relatively enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the adjacent end portions of the sections of the operating and holding rod of the device, showing the connector between the sections in elevation in position to retain the sections rigidly in axial alinement with each other, and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the connector between the sections in position to permit folding of the sections.

In Figures 1 to '3 inclusive, the numeral 1 designates a member which is attached at its upper end by hinges 2 to a vertical sup porting frame 3 for swinging movement about a horizontal axis to and from position to close the opening that is designed by the frame 3. The member 1 may be a'screen, an awning section, a storm window, or the like. The supporting frame 3 may include a vertical member 4 which extends between the upper and lower members of the supporting frame approximately midway between the side members of the supporting frame.

It is desirable that a means be provided, operable from the inner side of the frame 3 for swinging the member 1 to and from closed position to any one of plurality of open positions and for releasably securing the swinging member in adjusted position. To attain this end, the invention provides an operating and holding rod generally indicated at 5. The rod 5 comprises an outer section 6 which is tubular, an inner section 7 which also is tubular, and a connector 8 having the outer end portion thereof secured in the bore of the adjacent end portion of the outer section 6 by a rivet 9 or like fastening device. The portion of the connector 8 that protrudes from the tubular section 6 is slidable in the bore of the inner tubular section 7 and is provided with a horizontal slot 10 which extends trans versely through the connection 8 and in which a horizontal pivot element 11 that extends transversely of the section 7 adjacent to but spaced from the outer end of the latter, may slide. The ends of the pivot element 11 are secured in the walls of the section 7 at diametrically opposite points and the outer end portion of the section 7 is provided in its upper and lower sides with cut-outs or slots 12 and 13 so that the section 7 can be swung vertically about the axis of the pivot element 11 when the pivot element 11 is at the adjacent end of the slot 10. The length of each of the slots 10 and 11 is less than the length of the portion in Figure 4, the connector 8 will extend in the bore of the section 7 beyond the inner ends of the slots 12 and 13 and will engage with the inner wall of the section 7 and prevent relative swinging movement of the sections 6 and 7 about the axis of the pivot element 11.

The section 6 is attached at its outer end by a horizontal pivot element 1-1- to the out standing arm of an attaching bracket 15 which is secured to the inner face of the outer end portion of the swinging member 1 near the vertical median line of the member 1. The rod 5 extends slidably through a horizontal opening 16 in the outstanding arm of a right angular keeper bracl-zet 14 which is secured to the middle post radjacent to the lower end thereof. The section 7 of the rod 5 is shown as being proviei with a lateral notch 18 adjacent to its inner end and the section 6 also is shown as being provided with a lateral notch, indicated at 19 adjacent to its inner end. The rod 5 can be manipulated to engage either of the notches 18 or 19 with the adjacent portion of the outstanding arm of the keeper bracket 16 so that the rod will function in conjunction with the keeper bracket 16 to hold the member 1 against swinging from either the position shown in full lines in Figure 2, or the position shown in Figure 8. When the member 1 is held in the position shown in Figure 2, the section 7 of the rod will have been slid on the connector 8 against the adjacent end of the section 6 and the sections 6 and 7 will be held rigidly in aline ment with each other. lVhen the member 1 has been swung from the position indicated by the full lines in Figure 2 directly to th position indicated by the dash lines in F igure 2, or when the member 1 and the rod are-in the position indicated by the dash lines in Figure 2, because of any possible manipulation thereof, the rod 5 will be vertical and will be retained close to the inner side of the member 1 in out of the way position by a spring clip 20 on the post l, The spring clip 20 is positioned at a distance above the keeper bracket 16 slightly less than the length of the section 7, and has a pair of spring arms adapted to embrace the rod 5. hen the member 1 is in the position shown by the dash lines in Figure 2, the sections of the rod 5 are held rigidly in alinement with each other and the outragement of the spring clip 20 with the rod will hold the latter vertically within the plane of the supporting frame. hen the member 1 is in the position exhibited in Figure 3, the inner section 7 of the rod may be swung upwardly about the axis of the horizontal pivot element 11 and may be engaged with the spring clip 20 and thus held substantially in the plane of the frame 3 and in out of the way position. If desired, the section 7 of the operating and holding rod may be provided at its inner end with a knob 21.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The rod 5 can be conveniently and easily manipulated by an operator at the inner side of the frame 3 and the swinging member 1 can be secured releasably in any one of a plurality of positions. When the rod 5 is in active posi- U01] and serves to hold the member 1 in angular relation to the plane of the frame 3, the rod will not extend any appreciable distance inwardly of the frame 3, but will be disposed almost entirely at the outer side of the frame 3 when the member 1 is fully open as shown in Figure 2, or will be disposed partly at the outer side of the frame 3 and partly in the plane of the frame 3 when the member 1 is in the position illustrated in Figure 3. The rod 5 is in out of the way position in either one of the two indicated active positions thereof. The rod 5 will be con'ipletely disposed in the plane of the frame 3 when in inactive position as illustrated by the dash lines in Figure 2.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other than that which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and 1 therefore consider as my own all such modifications and adaptations thereof as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim The combination with a vertical frame and a closure for the frame attached at its upper end to the upper end of the frame to swing about a horizontal axis toward and away from the plane of the frame, of a rod comprising tubular sections and means connecting the adjacent end portions of the sections for holding said sections in alinement with each other and for permitting folding of the sections as desired, means connecting one end of said rod with the free end portion of said closure so that said rod can swing about a horizontal axis, a stationary keeper at the lower end of the frame having a horizontal opening through which said rod extends slidably, said rod being adapted at a plurality of points spaced along its length to engage the said keeper to hold the said swinging closure in any one of a plurality of adjusted positions in respect to said frame, and a spring clip positioned above said, keeper at a distance above the latter slightly less than the length of the adjacent section of said rod, said rod being engage able with said sprin clip and held in the plane of the frame when in engagement with the spring clip,

WILLIAM ANDREW TOh TLINSON. 

